June 1, 2005

[twixmix0303]

I usually don't post trip reports, but I will today. Today I survived the first day of final exams and decided to celebrate with a short trip to Six Flags. I figured there would be no lines since it was still the school year and during the week. However, I forgot about the school groups. It wasn't mostly students, though, it was more younger kids (making the bigger rides less crowded).

I planned this right before school ended and none of my friends wanted to go, so I went by myself (I live very close to the park). Rode Whizzer first, it was a nice ride with only 10 minute wait or so. Since this was last minute, I wasn't planning on going swimming. I did go inside Hurricane Harbor. It's too open and lacks scenery, although the buildings are nice. Didn't really live up to my expectations (although I am obviously not commenting on the slides themselves).

Next up was Viper, since I was by myself, I got to skip almost the entire line and ride next to a single rider. We had a nice conversation about Raging Bull, Superman, and Hurricane Harbor. After that I headed to Raging Bull, wait was to the queue house. They did add a third train during this time. Everyone clapped. Again, I had a nice conversation with another person. Deja Vu was closed, but I went on Demon with a two train wait.

After that I headed to American Eagle. This was by far the longest wait of the day, about 20 minutes. The Scenic Railway was parked right on the crossing and the bell wouldn't stop. It was very annoying after awhile. I headed over to Iron Wolf, where the line was at the bottom of the stairs. However, the station was empty since everyone kept waiting for the front row, not realizing it until the got to the top of the stairs.

I met up with some friends at this point. Stopped at Mooseburger and then Logger's Run (10 minute wait). The camera were out because someone threw something on them (or something like that). They were working on getting it fixed. I went to wait for V2, but I had to get home ASAP (I still have 2 more days to study for).


All in all, great day at Six Flags.

[Sixflagsgreatamericafreak]

Your so lucky, all in all that seemed awsome!

[themanoftheland8]

My sister was one of the many people on the school trips today. Just like you, though, I have exams to study for, except I couldn't go because I live an hour and fifteen minutes away.

[Binks Drake]

I am going tommorrow afternoon to celebrate the end of finals! Yay, nearly over!

[mschulz5]

Wow, all of you are still in school? Down south we got out bright and early on May 24th. Enjoy your last days of school kids .

[twixmix0303]

May 24th? My cousins in Atlanta got out May 18.

[Sixflagsgreatamericafreak]

I get out june 13th

[greatamerica2003]

I did go inside Hurricane Harbor. It's too open and lacks scenery, although the buildings are nice. Didn't really live up to my expectations (although I am obviously not commenting on the slides themselves).

Lacks scenery? What more scenery do you want? Boats, bouys, palm trees, assorted nautical items, great looking buildings?

And a waterpark is "too open" as you put it for a few reasons:

1. So its hotter at ground level. You sell more ice cream, drinks and people go into the water more often. Then they go home and rave about how they waterpark is a great place to go on a hot day.

2. So you can see the slides, and where they are placed.

3. Saftey. The more trees and other stuff, the more obstructed views. Very important when you have lifeguards that need to watch the water.

[twixmix0303]

Well, it certaintly didn't live up to my expectations of Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon at Disney World.

1. So it's hotter at ground level. I don't really think that was the intention of Six Flags, to make their guests dehydrate so they can go home and rave about how the waterpark is a great place to go on a hot day.

2. So you can see the slides. A 40 or 60 foot slide complex is much taller than an 8 or 10 foot tree.

3. Safety. All I can say is that I really hope you're not thinking that the trees are in the water.

[LAFFfan4lyfe]

you have to remember though, that's disney world. *shrugs*

[Raging_Bull]

sounds good, the park was much more crowded than that today (6/1). At one point RB had an entire queue house full and then some. Is it not normal for this to happen on a weekday? On average how far does it's queue go on a normal weekday?

[Danhockey04]

First thing is first. Hurricane Harbor is more expensive and contains more slides than Blizzard Beach. Hurricane Harbor has very colorful looking buildings and very detailed objects. The concrete even has stamps in it. They traveled throughout the country to get the things in the water park, and the palm trees that they use are real, not fake. I also believe that Blizzard Beach does not have a funnel cake shop, which Hurricane Harbor does. Hurricane Harbor completely exceded my expectations, it is a very execellently designed park with great detail. Personally, I think that Hurricane Harbor is themed to its theme just as good as Blizzard Beach.

[twixmix0303]

You're definately right about the slides and buildings themselves. I was referring more towards the layout than anything. It was one giant open area, shaded pathways would have been much nicer. In terms of scenery, to a certain extent, quantity is more important than quality, though it seems Six Flags took that the opposite direction.

[punkbunny24242]

Danhockey I agree with you.. I didn't know what to expect walking in but it blew me away!! I saw the fish and shell stamps in the concrete also! Every inch of that place was very carefully thought out and decorated. I think that it looks AMAZING!

[greatamerica2003]

. It was one giant open area, shaded pathways would have been much nicer.

Marriott's Great America was one giant open area too when it opened. Not a lot of shade to be had. But the trees have grown and provide plenty of shady areas.

Hurricane Harbor, on the other hand, is BRAND NEW. If you built a subdivision of houses today, it would take 30 years for nice shade trees to grow. And bringing in large shade trees and transplanting them is a tricky and expensive proposition.

3. Safety. All I can say is that I really hope you're not thinking that the trees are in the water

And I am not saying that the trees are in the water. Clear line of sight is important. There are curves to the Adventure River, and what if you were drowning and the lifeguard couldn't see you because you were behind the tree?

1. So it's hotter at ground level. I don't really think that was the intention of Six Flags, to make their guests dehydrate so they can go home and rave about how the waterpark is a great place to go on a hot day.

Thats why you go in the WATER there genius.

[twixmix0303]

Very mature there genius

Fine, so don't put trees near Adventure River. What about everywhere else on the midway?

And regarding no shade to make it hotter, why would Six Flags really care if its guests are in the water or not? If they enjoyed themselves sitting on a bench eating a funnel cake, then they'll still tell their friends how much fun they had.

Also, the slide complexes would have looked a little nicer without all the exposed structural metal.

[greatamerica2003]

Very mature there genius

Fine, so don't put trees near Adventure River. What about everywhere else on the midway?

Hey thats my line.

And see my above post about the long term growth of trees.

[twixmix0303]

Palm trees won't grow to provide much shade. I'm talking maybe 8 foot wide pathways (like in front of the Sharky's Snack Shack).